A woman identified as 'Jade' has alleged that David Walliams sexually assaulted her in 2007 when she was 15 years old. The claim is part of an investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. Walliams, 55, strongly denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.
Alleged Encounter in London
Jade said she met Walliams in central London in August 2007 after they began speaking on social media. She claimed the comedian, then 36, sent her a private message after she commented on a public MySpace page. Jade said her date of birth was visible on her profile, showing she was 15.
According to Jade, the initial message read "'thanks for the comment'" and was signed "'D' with a kiss". She said she ignored it at first but replied after Walliams sent another message asking "are you there?". Walliams then asked for her number and called her within minutes from a withheld line, she claimed.
Alleged Assault at His Home
Jade said they arranged to meet in a cafe in Soho, where Walliams had already arrived and ordered her a coffee. She told The Guardian and ITV: "I was very, very shy. I was quite quiet. So, it was a lot of him asking questions. It was a bit about school, but it wasn't long until he asked me if I'd ever had sex before. I said I hadn't. I didn't like talking about that sort of stuff."
After leaving the cafe, Jade claimed Walliams took her down an "alleyway" where he kissed her. She then accepted his invitation to his house in Belsize Park, north-west London, reportedly driving there in his Aston Martin. Inside, she alleged he lifted her top, sucked on her breast, and tried to put her hand down his trousers. She said she pulled away and said "no", adding that he had an erection at the time.
When asked about Walliams' response, Jade claimed: "He said that we should wait until I'm 16 and to keep in contact. That comment will always stick out in my mind... That's a very strange thing to say. He obviously wanted that one thing." Jade said she never saw Walliams again after leaving his home.
Walliams' Denial and Legal Bid
Walliams strongly denies having any sexual contact with Jade. In a statement, he said: "Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with… I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret."
He added: "I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law… I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."
Walliams unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent publication of the allegations, citing the risk he would take his own life after two previous suicide attempts. The author was granted anonymity during proceedings, which was lifted after his injunction bid was dismissed. The Guardian and ITV published their investigations on Tuesday.
